The Promoters of Safeguarding continue to endorse a culture of safeguarding across our Diocese. Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and to protect them from harm.  

Support for families includes the Safe and Supported: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 - 2031 which aims to ensure children and young people reach their full potential; this includes ensuring that learning difficulties are addressed. 

There is a number of terms which are in common use regarding learning difficulties, but what do they mean? The most common are: 

AUTISM spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, paying attention, and restricted or repetitive behaviours or interests. It affects 1 in 60 Australians (or 1 kid in every second classroom). 

ADHD is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and, at 1 in 20 Australians (1 or 2 kids in each classroom), is our country’s most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. It is characterised by patterns of inattentive, impulsive or hyperactive behaviour. 

DYSLEXIA is a learning disorder causing inability or great difficulty in learning to read or spell which makes using written language difficult. At least 10% of Australians have it (or 3 kids in every classroom). 

DYSCALCULIA is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to do maths and counting. People with dyscalculia are often exceptional at reading, writing and spelling. 

DYSGRAPHIA is difficulty with writing or recording eg. someone has difficulty turning their thoughts into written language appropriate for their age, despite exposure to adequate instruction and education. 

DYSPRAXIA refers to difficulties with coordinated movement in which messages from the brain are not effectively transmitted to the body. Dyspraxia can affect the coordination of speech or whole body movements (hopping, skipping, writing). 

Great news! Despite all these (and other) learning difficulties, help is at hand. A child’s education involves a partnership between the child, the family, the school and, where required, medical intervention. In their protective mode, parents may be reluctant to share a learning difficulty with the school, but if teachers are not aware, they can’t implement support. Although the issue may never be ‘cured’, strategies to cope may be very successful.